"Amps? Check."

Thump

"Strings in tune?"

I pushed my pick into each string individually to see if the tune was right.

"Check."

"Cord good?"

I looked behind me to see that the cord was in perfect shape.

"Check."

I took a deep breath in, and a breath out.

Sigh

"What will they think of my performance? It's not like anyone knew who I was; I've practically been invisible for the last 3 terms. Will this performance get them to notice me?"

Thump Thump

There was loud cheering from outside the curtains for the group performing before me which made it hard to think to myself. After a few minutes, it got silent. My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden voice from the loudspeaker.

"That was the performance by the light music club."

"Ah, light music, how I wanted to join that club badly, but I was too scared of them rejecting me. I hope this performance might have them come to me begging on knees."

"Next up is... um... Nagi Ishikawa?"

THUMP

My heart let out a loud beat as my name was called.

"Ok Sera, let's do this." I said, looking at my guitar.

The curtains rose, revealing the crowd of people in front of me.

"I can't fuck up now, can I? Not when there's this many people watching."

I raised my pick up into the air and pushed it down against all the strings at once, a loud sound burst from the amps. I expected there to be some kind of reaction from the crowd, but there wasn't; there was only silence.

I dove right into the song, playing my guitar as I had practiced. I slowly heard people starting to cheer; it seemed that they enjoyed the instrumentals. Of course, I put my heart and soul into nothing but music.

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As I continued playing, I recalled all those times where I would cut my fingers while making my guitar as well as from the strings while practicing. Tears were about to pour out of my eyes, but I stopped myself. The vocal part was approaching.

It was finally that time, the time where I would sing my heart out, letting everyone hear my story, the story of how my middle school and high school life had been. I started to sing; just after a few words came out of my mouth, I heard a huge burst of screams and cheers from the crowd, everyone started waving their glowsticks, matching the rhythm of my beat.

I looked down on the stage and saw a straight row of hands spinning and waving their glowsticks in a crazed manner; out of every row, the first was the most enthusiastic.

I made it to the end of my song, the only thing I could hear was the sound of the crowd's cheering along with the loud beats from my heart. I was sweating a lot and I ran off the stage.

"Thank you Nagi Ishikawa for that amazing performance. Well everyone, that wraps up all the performances for today."

After everyone left the gym, it was dead quiet. I packed my guitar and wore it on my back, heading towards the exit of the gym.

"Heyyyy, Nagi."

I looked behind me and saw the boys from the light music club.

"H-hi, what's up?"

"Oh nothing, we just wanted to ask you something."

The boy scanned the area.

"Hey, follow us."

Thinking that the boys would beg me to join their club, I followed them.

We approached the forest nearby school, the whole place was pitch black and it was hard to see. I wondered if the boys took me here because they were too embarrassed to ask me in public. I heard a whisper behind me.

"Knock him down."

A silhouette dashed towards me and punched my face. I fell down on my guitar case, my nose started bleeding; my nose really hurt, I haven't been struck on the face until today. I couldn't see anything.

"H-Hello!? Anyone?! Help me please!"

"No one can hear us from here, there's no point."

Two people grabbed my arms and lifted me up. I looked in front of me but there was no point.

"God, you're such an eyesore. You really made us look bad with your performance today."

I could hear the boys' laughter around me.

"D-don't think that you can get away with this-"

"Oh? But the matter's already been settled, after today, you won't ever be able to talk, sing, or even play that guitar."

One of the boys grabbed my guitar case. I tried to resist and fight back but it was no use, I couldn't win against these boys.

"Open the case and give me the guitar."

I heard a click and a creak, it was my guitar case opening.

"Put the glasses back on his face."

One of the boys put my glasses back on for me and I saw the guitarist of the club holding my guitar.

"What are you going to do to my Sera?"

"Tch. You really named your guitar? Well, if this thing is so special to you, then I'll show you what I'm about to do."

The boys led me to a tall cliff, the edge of the forest.

"This is what I'm going to do to your guitar."

The guitarist held Sera over the cliff edge.

"WAIT, STOP, PLEASE NO, STOP, I BEG YO-"

Sera was no longer in the guitarist's hand, he threw her off the cliff.

"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU FUCKING BASTARD."

"Ohhh so scary, but don't worry, you'll be joining her real soon! Then you two will be together forever. I'm doing you a favor here, no need to thank me."

The guitarist snapped his finger, and one of the boys punched me straight in the gut, I couldn't make a sound nor could I make a breath, my vision was slowly darkening. I looked up at the starry sky, I suddenly felt my body falling, making the sky look further away by the second. Finally, I hear a loud crack and I black out.